| Abstract: | The dibenzylmagnesium/tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol system showed a very high reactivity as initiator for the anionic polymerization of styrene and butadiene, though the use of the magnesium alkyl alone could not induce the polymerization. A series of model reactions using 1,1-diphenylethylene gave information on the structure and reactivity of the dibenzylmagnesium complex as initiator. It was concluded from the model reactions, together with UV spectroscopic data, that the initiating species, the benzyl anion, should be deliberated from the coordination-agent-separated ion pairs of the benzylmagnesium complex. |
